Telegraphic recording apparatus.



T. M00. DE BINGHAM.

TELEGEAPHIG RECORDING APPARATUS.

I APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1910.

Patented July 11, 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT orFrc THOMAS MGCLELLAND DE BINGHAM, OF LONDON,ENGLAND.

TELEGRAPHIC RECORDING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MGOLELLAND DE BINGI-IAM, a subject of theKing of Great Britain, residing at 3 and 4; Clements Inn, London,England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTelegraphic Recording Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to that class of electrocapillary apparatus forrecording telegraphic signals in which a difference of potential iscaused to produce an excursion of the meniscus at the end of a thread ofmercury contained by a capillary tube wherein the end of such thread ofmercury makes contact with a suitable electrolyte, such as dilutesulfuric acid. The movements of the column of mercury in the capillarytube are photographically recorded on a traveling surface, such as tape.In this class of apparatus it is the practice to introduce into asuitable vessel the capillary end of a tube containing a column ofmercury. In fitting up the apparatus the capillary end of the mercurytube is first caused to enter the electrolyte, and by means of acompressor an air pressure is applied on the top surface of the mercuryuntil the pressure causes the mercury to flow out from the capillary endand drive out the air. The pressure is then released and the surfacetension causes the mercury to rise which draws up the electrolyte intothe part from which the air was expelled. Terminals are fused into therespective tubes so as to make good electric contact with the fluidconductors contained by them. In order photographically to record themovements of the meniscus due to changes in the actuating potentialdifferences, a beam of light is projected through an aperture in ascreen and is adapted to be more or less screened or diverted by themovement-s of the thread of mercury in the capillary end of the mercurytube which is located between the source of light and the said aperture.Behind the aperture and within a dark chamber a sensitized tape or othersurface is caused to travel by any well known or other suitable meansand it is upon this that a record (controlled by the position of themeniscus) is photographically printed. On the opposite side of thescreen is located the capillary end of the mercury tube in such aposition that the movement of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 22, 1910.

Patented July 11, 1911.

Serial No. 573,213.

mercury will intersect the beam of light passing through the aperture inthe screen and the image may be enlarged by means of a microscope in anywell known manner.

The present improvements particularly relate to the capillary tube andthe container for the electrolyte and the manner of mounting the same,also to the screen and the manner of mounting the same as hereinafterparticularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, inwhich Figure l is a diagram showing the whole of the apparatushereinbefore referred to. Fig. 2 shows the preferred construction of thescreen with the tape running behind it. Fig. 3 shows the capillary tube,the container for the electrolyte, both together so arranged that theirangle of inclination may be varied, and another form of screen in frontof the same. Fig. I shows one form of displacer for the electrolyte.Fig. 5 shows another form of the same. Fig. 6 shows a furtherimprovement.

In Fig. 1, I have shown at l the lamp which may be of any suitableconstruction, and which is adjustable by means of the thumb screw or thelike at 2, being capable of swinging on pivots at 3 as will be readilyunderstood. At a is placed the mercury tube and container for theelectrolyte. At 5 the usual microscope arrangement will be found whileat 6 I have indicated the screen and at 7 the tape.

It is an essential feature of this invention that in order to improvethe form of the curves I provide means whereby the meniscus in itsexcursions, upward say, will, as far as practicable, follow the travelof the tape. In order to do that it is essential that the meniscusshould move not perpendicularly up and down, but at a slight angle tothe perpendicular and this angle will vary with the speed of travelimparted to the tape. I attain this by mounting the capillary tube Atogether with the container for the electrolyte B in a carrier C mountedon a curved support D and fixed in position by a set screw E asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. It will be readily understood that byreleasing the set screw E the carrier C may be turned in a circle, thecenter of which is at or near the point where the meniscus is formed. Aswill be seen in Fig. 3 the aperture in the carrier C is circular and thecarrier may in this case act as the screen; I obtain, however, betterdefinition of the curves, by permitting the image to fall through a slotwhich should have the same angular inclination as the capillary tube andcontainer. To this end I adopt the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, in whichF is the screen, f a handle to adjust the screen, G is the slot, whileH, H, are set screws and H, II, are slots for fixing the screen inposition as will be readily understood. In F 3 I have shown the screennext to the meniscus; in Fig. 2 I have shown it, as in Fig. 1, next tothe tape; either arrangement may be adopted and in some cases I may havea screen wit-h a circular hole next to the meniscus and another with aslot next to the tape.

In Fig. 3, I have shown the necessary elec trical connections, whichconsist of a suitable source of current It, a wire S leading therefromand connected to the capillary tube A, and a second wire leading from Rand connected to the electrolyte container 13.

I adopt a displacer as illustrated in Figs. 3, at and 5, to regulate thelevel of the electrolyte in its container. Figs. 3 and 4 show thedisplacer in the shape of a small piston I in the interior of a metalcap I at the end of the container B. The piston I is worked by a screw2' extending outward.

In Fig. 5 I modify the arrangement as follows :Laterally from thecontainer B, extends a branch M which leads to a vessel N. If the levelof the liquid in B falls the excess in N will supply the deficiency andwhen required N may be refilled. The effect in this case corresponds tothat of the upper movement of the piston illustrated in Fig. at.

In Fig. 6 I have shown an arrangement that will enable me to obtain amuch more clearly defined curve on the tape than could heretofore bedone. It will be seen that the capillary tube A contains mercury to theupper level of the space 0, and mercury again below the space 0. Theintervening space is filled with a drop of liquid conductor or theelectrolyte. As the mercury is opaque and the acid transparent the lightwill pass above and below the meniscus and hence a very clearly definedimage is obtained.

I claim 1. In telegraphic recording apparatus, the combination of acapillary tube and electro lyte container, a lamp arranged on one sidethereof, a microscope arranged on the other side of said capillary tubeand electrolyte container, and a photographic surface arranged toreceive rays of light traveling from said lamp through the meniscus insaid eapillary tube and through said microscope.

2. In telegraphic recording apparatus, the combination of an adjustablecapillary tube and electrolyte container, a lamp arranged on one sidethereof, a microscope arranged on the other side of said caplllary tubeand electrolyte container, and a traveling photographic surface arrangedto receive rays of light traveling from said lamp through the meniscusin said capillary tube and through said microscope.

3. I11 telegraphic recording apparatus, the combination of an adjustablecapillary tube and electrolyte container having a displacer, a lamparranged on one side thereof, a microscope arranged on the other side ofsaid capillary tube and electrolyte container, and a travelingphotographic surface arranged to receive rays of light traveling fromsaid lamp through the meniscus in said capillary tube and through saidmicroscope.

4c. In telegraphic recording apparatus the combination of a lamp, anadjustable capillary tube and electrolyte container, a microscopearrangement and a traveling photographic surface with a slottedadjustable screen interposed between the photographic surface and thecapillary tube arrangement.

5. In telegraphic recording apparatus the combination of a lamp, anadjustable cap illary tube and electrolyte container having a displacer,a microscopic arrangement and a traveling photographic surface with aslotted adjustable screen interposed between the photographic surfaceand the capillary tube arrangement.

6. In a telegraphic recording apparatus and adjustable lamp, a capillarytube and electrolyte container, and a photographic sensitized surface,all so located with reference to one another that a beam of light fromthe lamp may be received by the meniscus in the capillary tube andthrown onto the photographic surface.

In a telegraphic recording apparatus having a capillary tube andelectrolyte container, a photographic sensitized surface, and a screeninterposed between the capillary tube and said photographic sensitizedsurface, said screen having a slot inclined in a direction parallel.with the travel of the meniscus in the capillary tube.

8. In a telegraphic recording apparatus having a capillary tube andelectrolyte container, a photographic sensitized surface, a screeninterposed between the capillary tube and said photographic sensitizedsurface, said screen having a slot therein, and means for adjusting saidscreen so that said slot may be inclined in a direction parallel withthe travel of the meniscus in the capillary tube.

9. In a telegraphic recording apparatus an adjustable capillary tube andelectrolyte container, a photographic sensitized surface, and a screeninterposed between the capillary tube and said photqgraphic sensitizedsurface, said screen having a slot inclined in a direction parallel withthe travel of the meniscus in the capillary tube.

10. In telegraphic recording apparatus having a capillary tube andelectrolyte container and a photographic sensitized surface, a screenadjacent to the meniscus and another screen adjacent to the sensitizedsurface.

11. In' telegraphic recording apparatus having a capillary tube andelectrolyte container and a photographic sensitized surface, a screenadjacent to the meniscus and another screen adjacent to the sensitizedsurface, one of said screens having a slot inclined to correspond withthe travel of the meniscus.

12. In telegraphic recording apparatus, an electrolyte container and acapillary tube containing a column of mercury, a drop of transparentsubstance contained in said mercury column and adapted to travel withthe mercury, a lamp arranged on one side of said container and capillarytube, and a photographic surface arranged to receive rays of lighttraveling from said lamp through said transparent substance.

13. In telegraphic recording apparatus, an electrolyte container and acapillary tube containing a column of mercury, a drop of transparentsubstance contained in said mercury column and adapted to travel withthe mercury, a lamp arranged on one side of said container and capillarytube, a microscope arranged on the opposite side thereof, and atraveling photographic surface arranged to receive rays of lighttraveling from said lamp through said transparent substance and saidmicroscope.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS MGCLELLAND DE BINGIIAM.

lVitnesses BERNI-IARD JAMES, WALTER J. SKERTEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents Washington, I). G.

